Wire clothespin



Aug. 5, 1 58 I G. s. TSUDA 2,845,675

WIRE CLOTHESPIN Filed Oct. 4, 1955 George S. Tsuda INVENTOR.

United States Patent Ofiice 2,845,675 Patented Aug. 5, 1958 WIRE CLOTHESPIN George S. Tsuda, Hilo, Territory of Hawaii Application october 4, 1955, Serial No. 538,379

zclaims. c1. 24-1s9 This invention relates to certain new; and useful improvementsin a wire clothespin, that is, a'clothespin which is fashioned from a single length of wire of proper gauge and wherein the wire has its intermediate and respective end portions expressly bent in a predetermined manner to provide'a pair of openable and closable jaw portions pin which will appeal, it is believed, to those who advocateand rrranufacture-wireclothespins and which, being simple, practical andreliable; will meet the needs of users: I

' In'carryin'g outtheprinciples-ofthe present'invention, the normally closed jaw portions are of generally U- shaped form in plan and the inward end portion of the opposed limbs of the respective jaw portions are formed with lengthwise semicircular bends. The bends of the limbs of one jaw portion are bent in a direction opposite to that of the bends of the limbs of the other jaw portion, whereby to provide grips which are conformable with the clothesline, making it easy to pilot the jaw portions into position and to ensure that the clothes on the line will be securely held because when once the clothespin is properly positioned and clamped, it will stay put.

Novelty is predicated on forming an intermediate portion of the wire into a hinging and connecting element and forming the respective free ends of the wire into simple hooks which are caused to embrace and clench themselves about the intended complemental portion of the wire, thus providing a simple hinge and tensioning the cooperating portions of the wire to provide the desired spring action, an action which normally spreads the handle portions apart and keeps the jaws closed, or substantially so.

Other objects, features and advantages will become more readily aparent from the following description and the accompanying sheet of illustrative drawings.

In the drawings, wherein like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the views:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a wire clothespin constructed in accordance with the principles of the invention and showing the manner in which it is intended to function;

Figure 2 is an edge elevation examining Figure 1 in a direction from left to right; and

Figure 3 is a central section taken approximately on the plane of the line 3-3 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view emphasizing certain structural details not so clearly evident from the other figures.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it' is clear that theclothespin is formed from a single length of wire which is bent upon itself in predetermined ways and is charactreized chiefly by two opposed approximately duplicated and spaced primary members, a first member denoted by the reference character A and a second member much the same as the first member and denoted by' the reference character B. Stated otherwise, A is the top member and B the bottom member in the'drawing. Each member embodies a U-shaped handle at one end, the top handle being denoted by the numeral 6 and the bottom one by the numeral 8, and each handle embodying linearly straight limbs and a connecting bight portion. The limbs of the handle 6 are denoted by the numerals 10 and 12 while the bight portion is denoted at 14. The limbs of the handle 8 are denoted by the numerals 16 and 18, and the bight portion is denoted at 19. The lower end portions (in the drawing) of the members A and B are formed into generally U-shaped jaw portions denoted respectively by the numerals 20 and' 22,

the limbs of the top jaw portion 20 being. denoted at i 24 and 26, andthe bight portion at 28, whereas the limbs ofthe bottom jaw portion 22 are denoted by the numerals 30. and 32, and the bight portion at 34: The limbs 24 and 26 have semicircular upwardly bowed longitudinal bends 36 and 38 while the complemental bends of the limbs 30 and 32 are denoted at 40 and 42, respectively. These bends 36, 38, 40 and 42 provide conformable grips for the clothesline. The intermediate'portion'of the over all wire at the inward ends of the member A, that is, the linearly straight portion 44, is bent at' 46 and itextends across and is'sandwiched between the respective top-and bottom" handles 6 and 8 and provides a connecting and hinging element for members A and B. The free end or terminal portion of the limb 10 of the handle 6 rest upon, extends below the element 44 and is fashioned into an upturned bend or hook 48 which is bent over and clenched around inner end portion 50 of the limb 24. The adjacent portion of the limb 30, that is, the portion 52, is separated from the portion 50 so that the hook 48 connects only to the end portion 50. The free terminal end of the limb 18 of the bottom handle 8 is formed into a downturned bend which is bent in a direction opposite to the book 48 and forms a second hook 54 which is bent over and around the inner end portion 56 of the limb 32. Also, the adjacent portion 58 of the limb 26 is not embraced by this hook 54. The picture seen in Figure 2 which is looking at one side would be the same if seen from the other side in Figure 1. In fact, it is believed that by comparing Figures 2 and 3, the manner in which these hooks 48 and 54 are directed and bent and the freedom of the limb portions 52 and 58 will be clear to the reader. As stated, there are many clothespins which are fashioned from a length of wire but none, it is believed, which are characterized by the portions 10 and 48 forming a hook and embracing the limb portion 50 and the bottom limb 18 fashioned into a hook 54 and embracing the portion 56, especially when taken in conjunction with the single strand connecting and hinging intermediate wire portion 44.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

.bends of the respectively opposed pairs being in opposite ,directions and providing semicircular clothesline embracing grips, an intermediate portion of the over-all wire at the inward end of the limb to the left of the top jaw portion being straight and directed at right angles and being sandwiched between adjacent limb portions and joining .with the inner end portion of the limb of the bottom jaw portion and providing a connecting and hinging member .for said top and bottom members, the limb to the left of the top handle being defined by one end of the over-all lengthof the wire and being fulcrumed on an end portion of said connecting and hinging member and being bent upon itself into an upwardly directed hook which is clenched around an inner end portion of the left limb of the top jaw portion, the other terminal end portion of said length of wire which defines the right limb of the bottom handle being crossed beneath and fulcrumed against a corresponding right hand end portion of said connecting and hinging member and then extending beyond said member and being fashioned into a terminal hook which is directed downwardly and is clenched over and partially around the inner end portion of the right limb of said bottom jaw portion.

2. A clothespin formed from a single length of wire bent upon itself in predetermined ways and characterized chiefly by two opposed approximately duplicated top and bottom members, each member embodying a U-shaped handle at one end having straight coplanar spaced parallel limbs joined by a bight portion, and a generally U-shaped jaw portion at the other end, each jaw portion being alike and having spaced parallel limbs joined at their outer ends by a bight portion, the limbs of said jaw portions having outwardlytbowed lengthwise bends, the bends of the respectively opposed pairs being in opposite directions and providing semicircular clothesline embracing grips, an intermediate straight portion of the over-all wire at the inward end of the top one of said jaw portions being bent and extending directly across at right angles to and being interposed between the limbs at the intermediate portions of the respective top and bottom members, one terminal end of said wire being free, fulcrumed on said intermediate straight portion andextending beyond the latter and being fashioned into a hook, the bill portion of which is bent upwardly and clenched around and over the adjacent inner end portion of one limb of said top jaw portion, and the other terminal end of said wire being likewise free, fulcrumed against said intermediate straight portionand fashioned into a second and similar hook, thebill portion of which is bent downwardly and clenched around and over the adjacent cooperating inner end portion of one limb of the bottom jaw portion, the first named hook being formed at the free end of one limb of the top handle to the left of the lengthwise center of the over-all clothespin and the second named book being formed from and located at the free end of the bottom handle to the right of said lengthwise center, said intermediate portion of the wire and said left and right hooks serving to hingedly interconnect said top and bottom members, and also providing the spring forces required to normally spread the handles apart and simultaneously press the'jaw portions together.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

